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Inaugural fashion through the years

Presidential inaugurations were more of a staid affair back in the day. Black was a popular color of choice among first ladies, as seen here by Edith White Bolling Galt Wilson, the second wife of President Woodrow Wilson, on the way to his second inauguration in March 1917.

Fashion got a little more fun in the 1920s, when Grace Coolidge wore feathers AND fur to the inauguration of her husband, President Calvin Coolidge, in January 1925.

Bedecked in white, a solemn Ladybird Johnson looks on as her husband, Lyndon Johnson, is sworn in as president aboard Air Force One in Dallas following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

It became harder to tell what first ladies were wearing on Inauguration Day in the days of black and white photography. Here, Ladybird Johnson watches as her husband, Lyndon Johnson, is sworn in for a second term on Jan. 20, 1965.

Pat Nixon looked jaunty in her red coat and black fur cap watching her husband Richard Nixon be sworn in as the country's 37th president in January 1969.

Pat Nixon also wore fur for her husband's second inauguration in January 1973, sporting a teal-colored coat with fur trim.

Betty Ford accented her white and baby blue suit with a large white flower in this family picture taken the day of Gerald Ford's inauguration in August 1974.

Rosalyn Carter was pretty in teal while walking Pennsylvania Avenue with President Jimmy Carter following his inauguration in January 1977.

Looking smart in her signature red dress, Nancy Reagan shares an embrace with her husband President Ronald Reagan in this undated photo.

Nancy Reagan sported plenty of gold bling at Ronald Reagan's second inauguration in January 1985.

Barbara Bush goes bold in a teal winter coat for President George H.W. Bush's inauguration in January 1989.

Hillary Clinton, wife of President Bill Clinton, and Tipper Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore, donned long long coats and big hats in blue and purple during Bill Clinton's first inauguration in January 1993.

First lady Laura Bush looks at her inaugural ball gown after it was set on display in 'The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden' exhibition at the National Museum of American History Jan. 20, 2002. in Washington, D.C. The first lady presented the gown she wore to the 2001 Inaugural balls to the Smithsonian Institution's First Ladies Collection.

Laura Bush went a lighter, more elegant route for her husband's second inauguration in January 2005 dressed in all white with nude heels.